The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) condemns the decision of the Ministry of the Interior to reject the residence permit application of Massimo Moratti, a researcher with the Italian media freedom organisation OBC Transeuropa (OBCT), order him to leave Serbia and ban him from entering the country for one year. We call on the competent authorities to disclose without delay the legal basis and specific reasons for this decision, as well as to review and revoke it.
On 4 September, Moratti was informed that his residence permit application had been rejected, seven months after he had submitted it. He was ordered to leave Serbia within 15 days and banned from entering the country for one year. The decision stated that he posed an “unacceptable security risk to the country”, without providing any further explanation of the facts and circumstances on which such an assessment was based.
The Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists classified the case as a serious threat to media freedom by the Serbian authorities. The alert was submitted by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Press Institute (IPI).
Of particular concern is the absence of a clear explanation as to whether Moratti’s work in the field of media freedom, his research activities or his public engagement influenced the assessment of the alleged security risk. As a representative of OBCT, Moratti participated in an international media freedom mission that visited Belgrade in March 2026 and whose report was published in July.
IJAS warns that unjustified decisions denying foreign researchers, journalists and media workers residence permits or entry into the country may be interpreted as an attempt to obstruct independent monitoring of the state of media freedom in Serbia. Any such restriction must be prescribed by law, clearly justified, proportionate and applied without discrimination, with full respect for freedom of expression and media freedom as guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
We call on the Ministry of the Interior and other competent institutions to clarify whether Moratti’s professional activities influenced the decision, disclose the facts on which it was based, uphold his appeal, annul the decision and lift the ban on his entry into Serbia.
IJAS expresses its full support for Massimo Moratti and his family and will continue to closely monitor this case, as well as the actions taken by the competent institutions.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, 18 September 2026
